Monday, June 8, 2015

Tree Explorers

The kids have been having a blast playing in all the foliage from the trees. The trunks are being cut and split for firewood, and all the limbs and leaves are slowly being burned. It'll take awhile:-) Kenna grabbed the camera to capture some of the fun and "high adventure" - as Brooks says in the video "...I feel very brave..." lol

About Me

I am a naturally messy girl who has watched her extensive makeup and fashion collection slowly dwindle down to track pants, tee shirts and ponytails, with the addition of each new baby. (Hopefully with no food stains on them). I have a smart, friendly, and idea-filled husband. Je t’aime. I am proudly Canadian, living my life in the USA. I have 3 wonderful children who may or may not get all their brains, good looks, charming wit, and excellent behaviour from me. Or lack thereof. I can do all things through Christ, in me. I am obsessed with capturing life, and posting about it. It’s my crazy life, and I wouldn’t trade it for any other!

A Favourite Quote:

Kid Kwotes & Kwips

Kenna: ...so then you run over and if you can stand in the hula hoop for 10 seconds...

Brooks: But how much time do you have?

Kenna: There is no time! Like, there is no time! You just run over. There is no time to do it, they just say, it's open, and you can just go, there's no pacific time, you just do it in whatever time you want

Brooks: Oh, so there is no time?

...just, wow...

Boys, playing nerf gun war...

Grey, shouts out amid the volley of shots: ooooOOO! Right in the sweet spot! And I say sweet spot so as not to be rude!

(which is an improvement over his angry declaration this past spring when he was accidentally "hit": Sonny! We don't hit people in the penis!!!"

Grey is still outgrowing his lisp, and some days, it's way worse than others...

Grey, watching brother use scissors: Wow Brookth, you're such a good cutter! I mean, I wouldn't th-ay beth-t beth-t beth-t, but I would th-ay th-econd beth-t

{...I wouldn't say best best best, but I would say second best. It's become a new mantra for complimenting people around here:-)}

Kenna: So, how was your doctor's appointment?

Mom: Oh, pretty good I think

Kenna: So no heart disease or cancer

Mom, stifling a laugh: Not that I'm aware of, no

Words that inspire confidence coming out of the mouth of a 9 year old boy, who has tied a rope to a tree to swing off of...

Mom: Um, how do we know this is secure?

Brooks: Don't worry, I read all about tying knots in my survival book

This week's edition of "did I really say that?"...

Kenna: Here, have this (hands over water bottle)

Brooks: But it's warm!

Kenna: It's fine. Warm water is actually good for you

Brooks: It is?

Kenna: yeah, mom says the warmness brings out the minerals

Brooks, to Mom: Wow, you did a good job dealing, especially since you can't shuffle

Kenna: Grey, you're not a baby so don't talk like one

Brooks: Well you're not an adult so why are you talking like one?

Kenna: I am allowed to give you wise counsel

Mom: There, that's like our TV, with two knobs and you had to get up and turn the dial to change the channel

Kenna: uuuugggghhh! That would just be so frustrating. Like, can you imagine like, being six, and having to get up and change the channel? Who would want to do that? #whoindeed #generationlazy

Listening to "boring" classical music with unimpressed kids

Kenna: If we were watching Tom & Jerry, this would be funny right now

Mom: I don't think you can wear that shirt anymore

Kenna: But it's my favourite!Mom: But it's getting too small

Kenna: I know, but if I pull my pants up high, it only shows my stomach if the wind blow or if I move my arms

Brian: ...if I could grow a full beard, I'd be unstoppable! It's the only thing holding me back...

lol

Kenna:...and then Robb said last year can't help you, focus on this year

Mom: hashtag truth

Kenna, rolls eyes: Did you just turn into one of those weird, cool moms?

Mom, catching up on marking: Anything that has two or more wrong, go back and make corrections

Kenna: ok, I know. "Good" isn't good enough around here (sigh)

Brooks, explaining to us a newly learned survival skill (triangulating your location)Kenna: Also, if you follow a river, you'll always find your way

Mom: Also, if you follow a river, you'll always find water

They enthusiastically agreed, until "Hhhheeeeeyyy!"

Brian, to Darla: Your hair smells weird but I still love you

Mom, explaining to the kids that Hillary Clinton had done illegal things, and was not our favourite Presidential candidate...

Brooks: What did she do? Does she smoke or something?

Brooks, watching the Halftime Show: Oh look, here's Fiancee

Mom: It's Beyonce...

Brooks: Well, I really hope we don't die in a tragic way, like, I hope we just die of age

Mom, snickers: Yes, dying of age is probably the best way too go, all things considered

Brooks, selecting mustard from the fridge for his sandwich: Huh, I think I'm gonna try this didge-in!

Mom: That's said dee-zhawn

Grey, had Yankee Doodle stuck in his head all day, and kept emphatically repeating only one line: And with the girls be hannnnddddyyyy! And with the girls be hannnnnddddddyy! And with the girls be hannnndddddyyyy!!

Who wrote this song?!

*********

asking questions about his novel on Hudson Taylor

Brooks:...and his sister...

Mom: What was her name?

Brooks: I don't know

Mom: It doesn't tell you her name?!

Brooks: All it said was his bless-sed mother and belove-ved sister

Explaining the concept of retirement to the kids

Brooks: But what if you run out of money?

Mom: Well, usually you make sure you have enough money before you decide to retire

Brooks: Or, if you run out of money, you just eat all the food you have left in the house, and then, you know, die

such simple solutions for such complex problems;-)

looking at trails in the sky

Brooks: Do you know what made those? War planes? Or trip planes?

Brooks: No May, there is no such thing as normal cheese. Every cheese has it's own name, like Cheddar Cheese and Stinky Cheese

So we've mastered all the cheeses apparently;-)

We were throwing out old strings of lights that didn't work anymore

Kenna, playing in the lights, and supposing all the things homeless people might do with them, if they looked through our trash...

Kenna: ...I mean, they could even use them for their wedding!

Mom: uhhhh, I really don't think so. What would they even want with lights that don't work?

Kenna: Well, I don't know, but since they're homos...

Mom: WHAAAAAT?

Kenna, in a "duh" tone: Homeless people, homos...

Mom: That is HoBO's. Hobo's. Not homos

Bahahahahaahahah!

Darla: Want to hear the really cool name I got from an Adele song?Brian: Not if you're going to play me the song

Darla: No, I'm just going to tell you

Brian: Go ahead

Darla: Riverlea

Brian, audible eye rolling: That sounds like a subdivision. Doesn't it? I live in Riverlea Place

Opening the storage bag to our artificial tree, Brooks take a deep, deliberate breath: ahhhh, the smell of Christmas!

Kenna: If you've touched fog, you've touched a dying cloud

Grey: Sonny we are not poor! My mom has two hundred and eighty three dollars!!

Driving through a bunch of connected parking lots

Grey: Mom! You'll never guess where a police was!

Mom: Where?

Grey: At a junk food place! You'll never guess which one!

Mom: mmm, McDonald's?

Grey: No, Chick Fil A! I mean, why would a police want to eat at a junk food place?!

Mom: I don't know. Why do you?

Getting out the Christmas decor

Kenna: See this book is torn, and you have to be careful with it because it's very old

Brooks: How old?

Mom: I don't know exactly, it was mine when I was little

Brooks: oh ok, so it is really old then

and a day just wouldn't be complete with my old age somehow factoring in:-)

Brooks, eating a sour warhead candy: ...I love sour! I mean, it does make my eye twitch a little, but I love it!

Grey tries on his Antman costume

Brooks: Wow. Grey has 8 abs, and boobs!

Thankfully he said it in a really impressed tone, and Grey was all too pleased with his insta-body-sculpting

Convo while out to dinner with friends...

Friend: If you could write a book on any topic, what would it be about?

*everyone pauses to think a moment*

Brian: Comedic timing

Bahahaha! Literally there is no one else who can make me die laughing while rolling my eyes. Heart him. And his "comedic timing"

While preparing desserts for a wedding

Pastor Dan (I can't recall his exact words, but jist was): Your Dad is lucky, he gets to be the taste tester

Kenna: Yah, he gets to be the one who says 'meh, that's kinda okay'

If you know Brian, you know that this is actually akin to a rave review. LOL!!

Starting to drive out of our parking spot before the kids were seated/buckled. Another car started to pull out, so I applied the brakes...

Brooks: Whoa!!

Mom: Sorry. We were going to hit someone

Grey: Uh, no. We weren't going to hit anyone, you were. You are driving, not us

This is so annoyingly Brian's child, I don't even know what to say sometimes;-)

Kenna: OH! There's a new American Girl Doll!

Mom: Oh really? What's her name?

Kenna: Mary Ellen! You can tell she's old fashioned because of her tv

...and how many times would you consider television to be "old fashioned". Mary Ellen, has a "box" tv with knobs on it. Oh the horrors of inconvenience;-)

heading into the store...

Grey: I'm just going to act normal so no one will suspect I'm a spy

Mom: Good plan

Brooks: My friend in my class is from the Philippines

Mom: Oh yah?Brooks: Yup. He's Fill-a-pee-nee-ish

Mom: Hahhhhaaaa, no! It's FilipinOOO!

trying to tell a joke

Grey: What has four wheels and flies?

Mom: hmmmm, the Batmobile?

Grey: Nope!

Mom: Ok, so what is it then?

Grey: Don't ask me, I have no idea!

haha!

Waking me up/snuggling on a lazy morning

Darla: OW!

Brian: What?

Darla: You bit my arm!

Brian: It was just a little nibble

Darla: No, you bit me, and it hurts

Brian: You're so crabby

Darla: You need to stop biting people

Brian: I don't bite people, I only bite you

Darla, with a laugh: I would honestly prefer it if you did bite 'people' and leave me alone

Brian: You're just always so crabby

Grrrrrr!

Instead of saying "for real?" or similar when trying to figure out if people are being serious, Brooks has taken to saying: Non-fiction?

Asking me a question about her school work...

Kenna: This just says "My Shadow", if I put quotes around it, what is it? A story, or a song?

Mom: Hmmm, I don't know. It could be the title of a poem, or it could be a story...

Grey: Or it could be a legend!

discussing Hurricane Joaquin's path of doom

Mom: Well, it just seems like we'll be getting a lot of rain, but not a hurricane, because, see how it's being pulled out to sea?

Kenna: So we did all that shopping for nothing?

Mom: No, it was just our normal food - I just made sure we had everything we needed so we wouldn't need to go back out in bad weather

Kenna: Yah, but you bought Go-gurts!

Mom: That wasn't for the storm, that was just because they were on an excellent sale. The only thing I bought "extra" was more batteries because we were running low

Kenna: Oh

Brooks: I am just so disappointed it's not going to hit us, I was so looking forward to it!

Mom: I wasn't! They can be dangerous

Brooks: Yah, well, nature is dangerous, Mom, like camping! I mean, it's so dangerous camping out there, like there are all kinds of wild animals you have to kill and everything!

overhearing a conversation...

Kenna: ...no no, Mom is middle age

Brooks: No, middle age is 20, so Mom's already in old age

Kenna: No, old age is 40, so she's still technically in middle age, but sort of in old age

We have a few small gifts/rewards the kids can earn with our blessing/if-then charts...

Brooks, telling Daddy: ...and now there's a competition for the comic book, because Kenna says she might be interested in it, so it's like, who's going to have the most points, because Kenna is able to be good consistently, and me and Grey, not so much

May, not wanting to eat a "cookie" I made - no sugar, no flour, and whole food "diet" approved

Kenna, offers encouragement: Just eat it May, it's just a cookie. Well, I mean, it is a healthy cookie, so it's really not that good, but just eat it

Telling the kids we're going to get ice cream with Grandma B

Brooks, reading the signage: awwww, yogurt?

Kenna: No Brooks really, I've had it before. It tastes just like ice cream, only it's super healthy for you

So apparently we need to have a discussion on what constitutes a worthy prayer request...aaaaaaannnnd what we'd consider to be the definition of "super healthy"

Guessing at a friends baby gender, all three kids decided on Boy

Mom: I don't know, I'll say girl I guess

Kenna: Why?

Mom: Well, because I was born first, and I had a girl first, so I just think it's sweet to have a girl first I guess. I'm actually surprised you didn't say girl!

Kenna: Yah, well, for their sake, I do hope it is a girl. Like, otherwise people never have any more kids

Mom, raised eyebrows

Kenna: You know, like if you have a boy first it's like "Whooooooo, I'm not having any more kids", but if you have a girl first you're like "oooooook, now we can have more kids" because when you have a boy first you're so busy chasing them around, you just can't ever think about more kids

Kenna, at 8:30am: That is the strangest thing I've seen all day! ...and I've seen a lot of strange things so far

Brooks, coming in to the tv: Who's playing?

Kenna: It's the Mets versus Walgreens

Daddy: That's actually the Washington Nationals

but she's right...that W is definitely Walgreen-ish!

heading to a friends birthday party...

Kenna (age 9): Is Abram turning 6?

Brooks (age 8): No, he's already 6! He's turning 7

Kenna: Wow, 7? That just blows my mind

Brooks, with a sigh: I know, they just grow up so fast

Grey, seeing Brooks laying on the couch, when he apparently thought there was much to be done: Brooks! Get up! We're men. We work!

Mom: What are you doing out here?Kenna: Oh, just waiting. The kids actually like crawling under my bed, so they're getting everything out for me, even the crumbs. It's really a win-win for me

I accidentally dropped some butter from my knife...

Kenna, reporting to Dad: ...and then Mom just threw butter across the room, scooped it up off the floor, put it on her bread and ate it!! Canadians sure do weird things!

Grey: I am really sens-titive about hotness, Sonny, so don't eventalk to me about hotness, or I might be burned, I am really that sens-titive

Kids of the modern age...

Grey: Can you lower down the stand you use to scan the clothes, so I can play on it?

Mom: That is called ironing. It's an ironing board

****

buying a bag of "regular" carrots for cooking...

Brooks: Woah! Kenna! Look at these way overgrown carrots!!

so maybe I buy baby carrots a little too often...:-)

Perhaps the "no rude talk" has failed in a certain aspect...

watching a funny-home-video show, and a guy naturally gets hit "where it counts". The boys die laughing, and

Grey exclaims: Wiener bam!

I suppose they are old enough to learn the "appropriate lingo" for such situations, HAHA. But Brian and I about died laughing just at that comment!

Mom, about to to start an activity with the kids: Alrighty boys, lets make some magic!

Kenna: Uuuhh, no. Magic has totally already been invented

Brooks: 'Member in my second grade math book when I had to do something Dad is an expert at?It was like, counting all the fence sides, like, 6 yards plus 6 plus 4 yards and stuff?Mom: uh huhBrooks: And, do you think Dad was really good at fact families when he was a kid? Mom: I'm not sure, but I imagine he was very good at them. I wasn'tBrooks: Well, I am very good at them. I can do like 5 pages at a time, so I'm probably like DadWatching Kennedy family home movies(us at gymnastics in 1992)Kenna: Oh wow Mom, you were so tall and skinny!Mom: That's Jared...(and watching footage from Dec 1992. Us kids shoveling the driveway in the middle of a huge snow storm)Brooks: Wow. You guys have had tragic lives

Brooks: We are really lucky that Dad married a Canadianyes, I like to think of it that way too:-)

Brooks: One of my friends sisters says next year, she's going to give me a ValentineMom: Oh really? Who is this?Brooks: Oh I don't know. I think her name is Samantha or somethingMom: And she wants to give you a Valentine next year?Brooks: Yes, likely to pay me back, 'cause I gave her my extras this yearI figured out who he was talking about. Anna Marie is 3 years old - so she's welcome to give him a Valentine;-)Heading to church for a meetingMom: Did you guys grab the bag with toys and stuff to play with?Kenna: Oh, no, we forgot it. But that's ok. We can just play rock paper scissors or another made up game. We're very creative like that

Brooks, randomly: Did you know that Jewish people are God's chosen people?Mom: Yes, they areBrooks: And did you know that when Jewish boys turn 13, they have a sort of celebration for them?Mom: Yes. I think it's called a bar-mitzvahBrooks: Yah. So can you read to me about that? Miss Wooten says it's really very interesting

Grey: My real name is Lleyton Gregory David, but it's really hard to spell. Even I don't know how to spell my real live name!

Grey: I really want to challenge you in Katamino, wanna play with me? I promise I'll take it easy on you, since you're not very good at itMom: Gee, thanks

Kenna: I feel like my left side is healthier than my right sideMom: What?Kenna: Well, I had a wart on my right foot, and my right ear got infected, and I'm left handed, so I think it must be my lucky sideMom: Interesting observations, but I don't think it works like that

Brooks, carrying his schoolbooks: Oh, Huck just ran away from me. I guess he's scared of my booksKenna: Maybe he just doesn't like you, ever think of that?

Brooks: Did you know that Eli's Great Great Great Great Great Grandma is 99 years old?

Mom: hmm, wow, that's very old

Kenna: Uh, no! That is too many Greats. That would be like his ancestors in Egypt or whatever

Grey, at dinner: I wanna pray! K, Jesus, please make sure the world doesn't turn into, umm, {long pause}, wait, nevermind, I need to start over. Dear Jesus, thank you for making humans, and tools. Amen

Kenna: Can we have McDonald's for lunch?

Mom: No

Kenna: {sigh} It was worth a shot

Brooks: Can you remind me next winter, I'd like to take up sledding

Mom: Uh, I mean, it's a little hard to take up sledding when we never have any snow...

Brooks, sadly: Oooooh. Right

overheard while kids are dancing and singing

Brooks: C'mon, shake your money maker!

(we'll blame a current popular country song for that one:-)

Kenna: I feel like I sound so young. Like, I sound like I'm 5 but I act like I'm 10

Mom: You act like you're 10?

Kenna: Well, yes. I do have moments when I act like the boys, but thankfully that only lasts about 10 minutes or so, and then I'm back to my usual self

Reading over my shopping list

Brooks: ...cooking wine. Wine? WINE?!

Mom: Yes, I use it in recipes, like Chicken Marsala

Brooks: Kenna! Kenna!! Mom is trying to drunk us!!

On the way to a thrift store to look at/purchase an American Girl doll for $25, instead of over $115 new from the store. I was explaining to Kenna that it's been used before, by another girl, and isn't brand new, but is still in excellent condition. She decided the savings was worth it, and was ok with it being used. As we approached the store, I reminded her once again...

Mom: Just remember, it's secondhand, so it might not be perfect, but it will still be good

Kenna, in a completely panicked tone: WHAT?! It has FOUR hands?!?!

Mom: What?! No

Kenna: Oh, well you said it had a second hand, and I do NOT want a doll with four hands

Mom, inwardly both laughing and rolling eyes: Secondhand does not mean you have an extra hand, it means it's the "second time" it's being used, since someone owned it before

Kenna: oooooOOOOOhhh! Ok. I'll get it then

Kenna: Well, once when we were shopping in Walmart, Lehman and Maryn kept saying reasons why Canada was better than America, and I didn't have anything to say about how America was better. But now I've got something! America is older!

since that conversation has to be a minimum of 1.5 yrs ago...it really did take a lot of contemplation!;-)

*****Brooks: Hey stop copying me

Grey: Hey stop copying me

Brooks: No, you stop copying me

Grey: No, you stop copying me!

(this goes on for some time, Brooks trying to break the copy cat cycle)

Grey: You know that's not the real Santa, 'cause you can see a part of his belt here, and there is no key. The real Santa always has a key

Mom: Eyebrow raised

Grey: You know, for his workshop. I mean, I know he doesn't a'zist, but if he did...

Brooks: Oh, see that house just has candles in the windows. I like that. I like settle Christmas decorations

Mom: It's subtle, not settle:-) And, me too!

Giving the instructions for math, and handing over a pair of kids scissors

Grey: Wait, I'm going to cut it?

Mom: Yup

Grey, doubtfully: Arrre you sure I'm responsible for that?

Mom: I think you will be fine, if you are very careful

Cat doing something bad

Brooks: Ah Ha, Sawyer! I've caught you single-handed!

...and I believe that should be red-handed

we've had many conversations since the death of young friend. Grey believes he's got it all figured out...

Grey: So you think this is your real body?

Sonny: YupGrey: Well it might look like it is really you, but it's really not. It's really just your heart. Your heart is a'trolling your entire body, if your heart is not there, then you're not really here, so it's not really you unless your heart is a'trolling your body

Kenna: Stop being so crabby

Grey, half shouting half crying: I am not crabby, I am ANGRY!! I am ANGRY because NO ONE is getting me what I WANT! So just get me a granola!! Else I'm going to keep being angry!!

Darla: It's coming up on our engagement-iversary. Remember that day? You were so nervous. Did you think I'd say no?

Brian: No. I was so nervous because I thought you'd say yes

har har. Everyone's a comedian

Grey: Mom, know how to spell 7-11? You just take a 7, and add an 11, and that's how you spell it

Grey, after seeing Santa: But it wasn't the real Santa. It was just like, a human, dressed up like Santa. Like, he probably just had all the materials to do it, so he dressed up like him

Brooks, telling his Awana leader: My Mom has been to lots of States, but, that was in the olden days

Kenna: Huh, well that is actually incorrect {hushed, secretive tone}, honestly, my Mom is older than my Dad...by a lot

Kenna, in Williamsburg: I just love looking at all these houses, it's like a step back in time

Grey: But it's not. 'Cause we only drove a car to get here, not a time machine

Brooks, accuses Kenna of lying about something trivial

Grey: ugh! This just makes me want to beat you down Brooks!

Brooks, dismissively: You can't

Grey: Oh yes I can! When we get home, the fight is on!

I predict the sensitive Brooks will get more than one beat down by the little brother over the years:-)

seeing a nice new Mercedes Benz with a hood ornament

Grey: Oh look. That's a nice symbol!

Mom: Yes! A very nice car!

Grey: Yah, it almost looks like, you know, the quiet and peace sign

...it took me a minute:-)

family discussion about people with good, or lack of, character

Mom: Lets just say, it's very important to marry someone with excellent character

Kenna, without skipping a beat, and a twinkle in her eye, points at Dad: So why'd you marry him then?

Brian almost spit out his drink from laughing. She was so 'ready' for that one, like she'd been waiting to try out her new joke. We walked right into it:-)

Kenna: Wow, it's so foggy out. Are you allowed to drive in the fog?Mom: Yes, you are allowed to drive whenever you want

Brooks: Unless you're drunk!

Brooks, looking at a package: We've never had this one, or this one, or this oneKenna: Yes, we have, you just don't rememberBrooks: No, we have NOT had this one, for sureKenna: Can you just trust me? I've been on this earth longer

Kenna: I know I'm just being over dramatic, but this paper cut really hurts!

Brian, legitimately losing to Brooks playing Wii Basketball

Brooks: Ok, Dad, you can stop taking it easy on me!

Time to step up your game Daddy, that boy can PLAY:-)

Mom, eating leftovers

Brooks: What is that SMELL?! Ahhh! What is that smellll?!

Kenna: It's Mom's lunch. Don't you remember, it's what we had last night

Grey: Uh, yah, {thumbs pointing to his own chest} this guy is a genie-us, right here!

Grey, to Brooks: Well, you are half American, and half nincompoop!

Kenna: Can you do this for me? I can't get it to spread without ripping the breadMom: Sure (spreads butter, expertly)Kenna: How do you know how to do that?Mom: I don't know. I figure it's just because I have 30 years of butter spreading experience!Kenna: Thirty - fiveDon't ever tell your kids how old you are. They will never let you forget it:-)

Grey, from the backseat: Hey Mom, I have three of your biggest enemies, right here!Mom: Oh?!?Grey: Ennnnnnemy number one! A Kit Kat! Enemy number two, a Kit Kat! Annnnd enemy number three (dramatic pause)...a Kit Kat!While I wouldn't call them my biggest enemies - they are definitely my least favourite candy:-)I handed over the key to our new tenant, who has the same last name as a portion of my familyKenna: So you met our long lost cousin?Mom: YupKenna: Did you tell Grandma about him?Mom: Yes, I didKenna: What did she say?Mom: Well, I told her online, but she said that it was interestingKenna: She likely was like, 'ooooh wooow. Weird!' but in like, CanadianStirring her red & white slushie around to turn it pinkKenna: This will be perfect for breast care-ness month!Mom: (chokes on her own slushie laughing so hard)Kenna: What's so funny?

Organizing an "every man for himself" battle...Grey: But, you know how in real live war every one is on a teamBrooks: Yah, ok, I know, but this is not the French Revolution

Given a 5 minutes until naptime warning...Grey, crying while getting tucked inMom: What's wrong?Grey: I accidentally wasted my minutes...it's hard to fit so much fun into just 24hrs:-)

My "city kids" spending some time on a farm, doing a corn maze. Getting out of the van, upon our arrival, they were choking and gasping for breath, because of "the smell". I told them about a wonderful thing, called manure. They were disgusted...Grey, after a couple hours: I'm starting to get used to the smell of this poop

Brooks: I just love Huck's cat-inalityMom: Cat-inality?Brooks: Yah, like his personality, only he's not a person!

watching a home movie of me when I was 12...Daddy: Wow, you know your Mom was that skinny when I married her?Kenna: Uh yah, went from totally skinny to...the complete oppositeMom: Ooookaaaay! I was NOT that skinny when we got married...and...rude! ;-)

Brooks: Dad said, in his day, the Cowboys were a good team, but now they stinkWe're so old we have a "day and age"

Grey: If we ever find an otter, can we keep it?Mom:...surewhy say no, when you can say yes :-)

Page left blank...Mom: You didn't do this oneKenna: Yah, I didn't think I had to, since that has never happened to meIt said "Write about the time your toy train became real and you were the engineer"Mom:(Explains purpose of creative writing)Kenna: Hmm, well, I still can't think of anything. Too bad this never actually happened to me, or I'm sure I'd have a lot to get off my chest

Grey, observing a beautiful sunset: Wow, that sky is showing us all of God's niceness!It was pretty nice:-)

Grey, in an annoyed tone: First of all, you put it in my face. Second of all, I don't like that. Third of all, that is not how you treat a person. Last of all, Goodbye!Kenna: Who is he talking to?Mom: Uh, I don't know, I thought he was talking to you!Kenna: Nope, I didn't give him anything

Kids, wondering at the location of where Lot's wife was turned in to a pillar of saltKenna: So, was it over near like, Michigan?

Brooks: Mom! Grey broke my telephone!Mom: What telephone?Brooks, pointing: ThatMom: Okay, well, that is two cups and a string, it's not like it can't be re-createdKenna: Ha! Two cups and a string! When you say it like that, it sounds so b'thetic

Kenna: Was I tomboy when I was a little girl?Mom: Yes, you were. You were very brave and tough and athletic and coordinatedBrooks: Well that's embarrassing news, for someone who doesn't want to be a tomboy!Brooks and Grey, both crying after a wrestling match turned "he hurt my leg!" "but he kicked my face!"Mom:{explaining that when you play rough and wrestle, injury is the risk you run}Kenna, interjects: As the old saying goes, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!

labeling the ziplocs to keep our sandwiches sorted outBrooks: What should I write on yours?Mom: Mom is fineBrooks: slash Darla though, right?Mom: It's not necessaryBrooks: I'm just going to do slash D, just in caseI guess he's worried a lot of other moms will be raiding our lunch cooler. Mom/Darla - that's me.

Brooks: Mom, how do you spell camouflage?Mom: c-a-m-o-f-l-a-..hmmm, just a second I'm not sure actuallyBrooks: Well, have you ever been to Great Wolf Lodge? Then you should know how to spell FlodgeMom: Thanks. Not helpfulKenna & Brooks sent for quiet play in Brooks' room during nap timeBrooks, comes into livingroom: Ok, Mom, lets negotiate here...um, if you let us come down here and get the things we need for our hotel, we'll let you come to our hotel for free!how can I pass up such a deal?

Brian and I talking about the upcoming age of neutering for the catsKenna: What does that mean?Mom: Oh, it's when they get old enough to start having babies, the vet fixes it, so they can'tKenna: But, they're boys. They can't have babiesMom, & Dad, eyebrows raised: True. Valid pointwe're gonna leave that one there for now;-)

giving Brooks a "pop quiz"Kenna: What did the vet say the cat has in his ears? It starts with ear and rhymes with kiteBrooks: I can't think of anything! (names a few random things)Kenna, waiting: Ok time is running out! It rhymes with kite!Brooks: (more random guesses)Kenna: No, ok, three two one, just GUESS SOMETHINGBrooks: But I can't think of anything!Kenna: Jus-just SAY a word! Any word! It rhymes with kite!Brooks: Pen-tha-notic!Mom: Penthanotic?!Brooks: Well yah, she said to say something. Time was running outMom: I think she meant to say a real word. What on earth is penthanotic? I don't think that's even a wordThe boy has a gift. Not the first word he's made up! Hahareading an article on 19 Kids & Counting, Brian looking over my shoulderDarla: I haven't seen that show in years, I should probably check it out againBrian: Nah, 'cause then you'll probably want 19 kidsDarla: uh, no. Do I look like I'm crazy in the head?Brian: uhhhhh, do you want an honest answer, ooooorrr?

Grey, holding his vitamins, each a different colour: I'm the luck of the draw!

Reading a paragraph from a school book, describing various kinds of communities, like big cities, small town etc.Mom, reading the written text: What kind of a community do you live in?Kenna: Wha? How would we know? We're homeschooled!{rolls eyes} - somebody doesn't pay attentionWe are reading Pilgrims ProgressBrooks, talking about our recent chapter: I just picture, you know, shoulder angels. You know, and then the little devil shoulder angel is telling Christian that his burden is going to come back, but I know it won't 'cause you can't trust a devil shoulder angel

Brooks, sadly: I just don't like lifeMom: You don't like life? Why not?Brooks: 'Cause it's always full of dead ends, and most people don't like dead ends, and I am one of those people!All this drama over a broken dollar store yo-yo he got from a pinataThe morning after a really late night...Brooks: I might look exhausted, but I'm totally pumped up!

Darla, about to climb into bedBrian: The cats here, so don't kill it with your elephantitusDarla: Elephantitus?!?!Brian: Well you always flop into bed like an elephant...har har

Brian: {listing off chores to be completed before we go have fun on stay-cation}Brooks: Dad can take the fun out of anything

Grey: Hey Mom, 'member that song {singing a mash up of the two tunes} 'fat bottom girls make the whole entire world go round on a crazy train'?Haha! Bringing me breakfast in bedBrian: Here, I brought you a donutDarla: Thanks!Brian: That's how Brian does breakfast in bed. ...uh, do you want cold cereal?lauuuuuughing!

Neighbour, playmate: Ok Grey, come with me (tries to lift him up from the ground) Hmmmph! You're heavy for a 4 year old!Grey: Well actually, I'm four and a half now

Grey, to Mom: I know you want to wear these shoes, but you can't, they're not your sizeSomeone is more than pleased with his new $5 discount footwear

Kenna: Hey, GreyGrey: My name is DavidBrooks: Well, you look just like GreyGrey: Um, yah, well Gwey is my brudderBrooks: Oh, but...I think it's you, 'cause I can see your chubby cheeks and fat-ish noseGrey: Nope, it's not me, it's David

Brian: This is really good. Wow, that is two good dinners in a row. A new recordDarla: {evil glare}

Despicable Me to...Grey - 'Spicable Me NoneBrooks - Plain Despicable MeKenna - Despicable Me, you know, not the second oneSeeing a mansion, for saleKenna: Can we buy that house? Cause then we'd be close to our friendsMom: NoBrooks: Why not?Mom: Because we don't have two million dollarsKenna: We don't?Mom: NoBrooks: Awww. Well if we get two million dollars, then can we buy it?Mom: SureKenna: YAY!These kids obviously have zero concept of money

Grey, holding toys behind his back as a big secret: I have a surprise for youMom: Oh yah?Grey, in a swiping reveal: Ka-bob!aka ta-da, apparently

Brooks: ...and this guy was like {moving hands around like a mime}...Mom: Yah, that is what mime's do, they pretend that things are there, and act it outGrey: No, that guy was trapped behind an invisible wall!Mom: No, there was no wall, mime's just pretend they are stuck in a box, or whateverGrey: No, no! He was like {moving hands} trying to get past the invisible wall, and he couldn't! 'Cause it was invisible!

Brooks, sent to go change, obviously removed all his clothing before deciding that going to the bathroom just couldn't wait...Brooks, streaking through the house: {laughing and hooting hilariously}Kenna: Uuuuhhh, Wow. I clearly did not just see what I just sawMom, laughing: Unfortunately, I think we did

Grey: I smell bacon and eggs, can we have eggs for dinner?Mom: Well, we're having quiche, so it's like bacon and eggs all mixed togetherGrey: Quiche?Mom: Yes, you like it. Remember?Grey: Yah, I do. But wait, there's eggs in that?Mom: Yes, it's made of eggsGrey: But there is no yellow part, so...Mom: Well, I mix it all together with the veggies, so you can't see it, but it's thereGrey: Hmmm. I think I would probably like just plain bacon and eggs for dinner, you know, with the yellow partSorry, kid

Kenna, singing Jungle Book song: ...the bare necessities, of mother natures recipes...Brooks, interrupts: Well, you know you shouldn't say mother nature, it's not what Jesus would likeKenna: Uh, well, but it's part of the song. Hey Mom! Is mother nature a swear word?

Brooks: The cat is being very vice-sty todayMom: Vice-sty? It's feistyBrooks: Feisty? What does that mean?Mom: The same as vice-sty, only with an f

Grey: Destiny is calling meMom: Destiny is calling you?Grey: No, my destiny called me. On the phoneMom: What did it say when it called you?Grey: Nuffin'

Brooks: I'm on the road to fame!Mom: You are?Brooks: Yes. No. What does fame mean again?Telling her brothers how to dance - but not crazyKenna: Do it in the mode you feel. Not too angry, or sad, but like, just think of Mom and Dad dying. So just do it like, thinking about that, sort of calm

Trying to convince Brooks not to be afraid of thunder...Kenna: There is nothing it can do to you, and besides you have the shield of God to protect you. He won't let anything hurt you! It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, what colour your skin is or anything about you, He will protect youand keep you safe! Well, unless you do something dumb like run into the road. Or, there could be a few more things too, like jumping out of a plane or whatever

Eating a hotdog from the Costco "restaurant"Kenna: I don't know what it is, but Costco's hotdogs just taste so much better than oursMom: Really?Kenna: Yah. They must use a rare kind of cow or something

Kenna: Did you know that armadillos make homes for other animals?Mom: No. You mean they make homes for themselves?Kenna: Well, yes, but they only live in one. They make homes for all kinds of other animals. It's what they do for a livingMom: Oh, no, I didn't know that...or that armadillos needed "a living"Kenna: Kinda like Dad, you know, building things for other peopleYeeessss. Thinking of Brian as the armadillo of the human-world makes me laugh. A lot.

Watching a robot tv showKenna: Why did that guy turn into water?Brooks: Well, one thing I know is that gravity always finds a wayMom, raises eyebrows, to Kenna: Did that make any sense?Kenna: Nope. I don't think he knows what gravity isBrooks: I do too!

Brooks, talking about our cat: ...He has big ears too, like the bat ear-did foxDad: Bateared fox?Mom: Are you sure that's a real animal?Brooks: Yup. The bat ear-did fox. They can hear stuff a mile away and have fur that sticks up on their ears like thisMom: So a fox that has ears like a bat...neatSounds legit:-)

Making a protein powder chocolate "frappa" in the kitchenGrey: Is that good?Mom: I think it's yummyGrey: Is it from Starbucks?Mom: NoGrey: Oh. I would only like it if it was from Starbucks

talking about the cat purringBrooks, at 9am: Yah, he did that three times to me last night, and the night after last nightMom: uuuh, that sounds quite impossibleBrooks: No, he did!

Overheard her, apparently talking to herself as she does a choreKenna: So today was a good day I think. A little disappointing in places, but...pretty good

Brooks: So, if you got enough lightning bugs together, their butts could light up the entire world!Kenna: See, this is why I get embarrassed when you say stuff like thatGrey: Oh come on Kenna, their butts do light up!

Kenna, whining about how Grey could have been her best friend, if he'd been a girl. Now she's friendless, apparentlyMom: Well, you know what is nice to think about though, each person is here because God wanted them to be. So if God had wanted Grey to be a girl, he would have been. So, He made Grey a boy for a specific reasonKenna: I wish I knew what that reason was

Brooks: So who was the second cutest?Mom: Second cutest of what?Brooks: Like, in the family. I was the first cutest, who was next?Mom: Who said you were the cutest?Brooks: Well, I was!

talking about the topping of a German Chocolate CakeKenna: It's amazing that that stuff can look like barf, but taste so good

The cat ran behind the couch...Grey: Oh, Crab-nuggets!

Brooks: I just told her that it's not appropriate for our age to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but we can just be plain friends, so that is taken care ofHe's fighting off the girls already:-)Telling a neighbour girl...Grey: Dis is a scratching kindof cat. We couldn't get a not scratching kind

Thrilled at a very happy surprise - getting to go to the movie theatreKenna: I mean, my mind is not, like, blown blown blown, but it's blown enough!

Admiring our new-to-us coffee tableDarla: I love it that it doesn't have corners!Brian: Well, yes, this is true of all circles...no corners

Kenna: What do you mean by comfortable walking shoes?Mom: I mean, if you can't walk a long ways without your shoes hurting your feet, don't wear themKenna: So what kind of shoes should I wear then?Mom: Ones that are comfortable to walk in

When asked to show us his "Brian hair" (which typically includes swiping hair to the side and striking a pose), Grey paused for a moment, spit into each hand, used the spit & hand to arrange hair beside his face, and then he did it *again*, a second time.

Thinking that her little brothers would be a wealth of material from which to write, Grandma B suggests that Kenna might be a writer someday. Before she could even finish the sentence, Kenna quickly informs her: No, I'm a leftie

Grey: Can you fer-tect this chip?Mom: It's called a guitar pickGrey: Do you know my brudder, Brooks?Mom: YesGrey: Ok, well, he says this is called a chipMom: Well, he's wrong, it's called a pick

Grey: You know when the sun brights down on you, and gives you red, like, red on your arm? That's what the sun does

After having fished a grand total of once in his entire lifetime...Brooks, playing a puzzle "fishing" game: Hey Carter, you wanna see my side arm cast, my backhand cast, or my over hand cast?The confidence has always been strong in this oneDriving into our old neighbourhood through a little "ghetto bit" we like to call the dodgy end of the neighbourhood, with the boys, and part of the road has been repavedBrooks: Oh wow. Look at this! We have to tell Kenna that the dodgy end is starting to look really good. I mean, it feels like there is more sunlight over here now, doesn't it?

Grey: Can I have an orange?Mom: No, we don't have anyGrey: Well, I want oneMom: Ok, well we can buy some. Next time we go to the store, you remind me to get themGrey, in a Mommy imitation tone: But that's not my job,that's your jobisn't it great to have your own words thrown back at you?

Daddy, coming home from work on Fathers Day, calling Mommy to check inMom: Yah, so, we'll see you in a few minutes...Kenna, interrupts: Maybe he'd like to go out for lunch on Fathers Day!Mom: Oh! Kenna is suggesting we go out to eat for Fathers Day! I guess she's payingKenna: No, I only have one dollarMom: Oh! Nevermind. She's only got one dollar. That's a bust.

Kenna: Oh! Jillaine's birthday is on the same day as your anniversary?! That's convenient!I guess it's convenient... 'cause we never forget it?:-)

Bolgerism: Whup Cream = whipping/whipped cream

The kids possess rudimentary knowledge of the rules of the road, which is...annoyingBrooks: Oh! Mom! Why did you do that? You're not allowed to cross the doubled yellow line!Mom: Well, you're also not allowed to hit cyclistsback seat drivers

telling me a storyKenna: ...so then Dad was like, 'why don't you do it properly', and I was like, 'I love you Dad, in theory, but I just like doing it my own way', so...theoretical love only runs so deep, lol

he tripped while runningMom: Oh, why did you fall?Grey: I just made my arms too heavy and I fell

The excitement is intense! We will be going on the kids first camping trip! A few funny commets...Brooks: I think that Mom will be a better camper than Dad, 'cause she's from Canada***Kenna: What if we get lost in the forrest in the middle of the night?***Kenna: Do you think we will see any wildlife in the forrest?Mom: It's a State Park - I'm sure there are animals, I am quite sure we won't see any***Explaining that there will be no technology (iPad) on the trip, and early risers will have to play quietly...Kenna: Well if we wake up early, we can just go exploring in the woods until you get upMom: No. You can't leave the tent before 7am.Kenna: Will there be any clocks?camping trip excitement!Brooks: I just can't wait to go to the bathroom tomorrow!Mom: Tomorrow? Why?Brooks: You know, 'cause I'll have to like, dig a hole, and...stuffMom: Uh, no.This is not the wilderness. There are bathroomsKenna: I'm glad. I mean, going to the bathroom outside would be so totally awkward

discussing our camping tripBrooks: Daddy grew up in the mountains, so he knows how to kill a bearKenna: If he knows how to shoot a gun, he knows how to kill a bearBrooks: Well, I don't know if we should bring any gunsKenna: Tom's prolly gonna bring a gun, so he can do it.

They started to watch a movie with Daddy, but had to pause to eat dinner...Brooks: When can we get back to G - I - G - I - O's?Daddy: It's G-I Joe

While I'm making lunch...Brooks: Is there anything I can appetize on? I'm starving

Brooks: Just go for pigs sakeMom: Pete sake, it's Pete sake, not pigs sakeBrooks: But that doesn't make any senseMom: Well, neither does pigs sakeBrooks: Yes it does

walking past a Redbox...Mom: Oooo, lets see if they have Saving Mr BanksBrooks: What is that?Kenna: It probably wouldn't be of interest to you. It's about Mary Puppins, do you even know who that is?Mom: Do you?She's never seen Mary "Puppins" :-)

Driving by the perimeter of a naval base...high fences, ships and tanks are visible from the road...Brooks, to Grey: Look, that is the Army Rebel BaseMom: What?! No. That is just a Navy BaseBrooks: Yah, but it's still the Rebel BaseMom: No. There are no rebel bases here. The real army won't let you have a rebel armyBrooks: Well, that is what I am going to do, someday. Be a military guy in the real armyKenna: Well are you ok with dying? 'Cause once you get out there, you can't take it back. You can't start crying and wish that you changed your mind. Once you're out there, you're going to get killed and you can't go backBrooks: Yah, I knowKenna: So you think you're that brave?Brooks: Well, not today. I will be, when I'm a army man

Kenna: So my plan is going to be, marry a Canadian billionaire, and have a house on the waterBrooks: Yah, that's actually what I am planning to do, too!So, it looks like I'm gonna be *rich* someday...if they share...;-)I told Kenna to grab a book and do some copy work. She chose one of her bird booksKenna: Wow, look at my writing! It's so nice! Look Brooks, look at the verse I wrote, (quoting the written page) God gives to every bird its proper food, but they must all fly for it. Old ProverbBrooks: Huh! Old Proverbs?! I've never heard of that one beforeThey are under the impression that "Old Proverbs" is a book of the Bible:-)

Grey: What's for snack?Mom: It's not snack, it's lunchGrey: No, the clock says it's snackMom: The clock says it's lunchGrey: But the family clock says it's snackMom: No, it says it's lunchGrey: Oh. But the kitchen clock...what does that say?

The Panera Bread logo...Brooks: What is with that sign? It looks like a woman hugging a taco

Trying to phase Grey out of the "cuppady" stage (sippy cup with strawberry milk is a comfort food to him), and lets just say old habits die very hard with that kid. Grey requests a cuppady, and I decided to make him one. I deliver it to him on the couch, and do I get even a thankful glance? No.Grey: You forgot to bend the straw, but ookaayThat child is BRIAN to the enth degree, from looks, to tone, to choice of words, to "constructive criticism"...the list goes on. BEND YOUR OWN STRAW, KID

About to start her 3rd grade math bookKenna: Argh, math is ruining our lives. I wish math never existed. That would be the key to happinessMom: Yah, but then you'd be dumb your whole life, and never get a job or have moneyKenna: No, no one would notice if I'm dumb. We'd all be the same, 'cause there is no math!Valid point, actually;-)

Boys arguing about something...Kenna: C'mon guys, just li la soyMom, raises eyebrows...Kenna: It means let it go, in SpanishOf course it does. Thanks Frozen.{Brian, more than a little sore after running 8 miles the previous day}...Grey steps right in front of Daddy as he's walkingDad: Whoa! Don't do that, I can't just stop on a dime anymoreMom: Your Dad's an old man nowBrooks: Thirty five is not old!Mom: Well, maybe not, but he doesn't wear it wellDad, laughing: Yah, I make it look old

Brooks: I just can't wait until my birthday! It's been a hundred years since I've had one!

about BeybladesKenna, to Brooks: Ok, ok, I mean I like slinging beys too, but when I'm not slingin' em I'd really like to do more girl things

Kenna: I have sixteen dollars! I mean, I know I'm not rich, but I really feel like I am!Seeing a vehicle covered in fancy airbrushed advertising for a tattoo place...mostly naked women covered in tattoos, covering the vehicleKenna: Wow, who would want to drive a car like that?! Prolly some guy who smokes and loves hot tattoos on girlsMom: Hot tattoos?Kenna: Well, you know, regular tattoos on hot girlsoh boy! I don't think I'm ready for this type of convo!!

Brooks: Did you tell your phone that I want BLT's for my birthday so you don't forget?He knows how it all gets done;-)

After being given her list of chores to accomplishKenna: So who is coming over?Mom: Josh & ElizabethKenna: Do they have any kids to play with?Mom: NoKenna: Argh! All this cleaning for just two people and no kids? So not worth it

Driving in traffic going 65 mph, a motorcyclist darts ahead of us, weaving in and out of traffic, and passing people in left lane using the shoulder...Mom, referring to his probable immanent destruction due to irresponsible driving: Wow. That guy deserves to dieKenna: Oh. So run him over then

Grey: How many miles did you run?Mom: Just one mile, in 10 minutesGrey: Oh, that's not bery as fast as a horse could do itMom: TruuuuueSo much for being proud of my accomplishments:-)

Brooks: It's too bad for you that you never get Mothers Day, I mean, we'll still make you a breakfast, but it will mostly just be all about Dad's birthdayThat breakfast better be epic!

Mom: Ok, so if you want to see how to spell something, or the meanings of words, where would you look?Kenna: In an atlas?Brooks: Oh! The Bible!*shakes head* School is going...not well, apparently

Darla: Look at this. When the kids were doing school, I sharpened all the pencils and pencil crayons, and I got a blister on my finger from holding the sharpener. It really hurtsBrian: Wow. I probably wouldn't tell anyone thatDarla: Yah, but if you saw how many pencils I sharpened...Brian: Um, noI guess it's embarrassing, regardless of quantity;-)

Offering me a lick of his lollipopGrey: Mom, you have to taste this! It's tastes like water-raisin!

Looking at a pic of our little cousin in her new glassesKenna: Wow! She's really starting to look like her mom now! I mean, her personality was always like her mom, and now she looks like her too!Mom: You think?Kenna: Yah, I mean, her personality, like saying "my butt is freaking out!", I mean, I can totally imagine Lauryn, at some point in the past, saying that tooMom: Reeeeally?Kenna: Yup. So Kayla is just such a funny personality, just like Lauryn, 'cause you said Lauryn was hilarious when you were littleSo there you have it, Lauryn, you can blame all of Kayla's "quirks" on *yourself*. Haha!

Grey: Can I sleep wiff my trophy? I just wanna look at it, and see how cool I am, and how fancy it is

Coming into our bed in the middle of the nightGrey: Mommy, I don't want you to be alone, so, can you hold me for a minute?He's already mastered getting what he wants and making it seem like it's for your own benefit. Future politician?

Turning on the radio, mid song...Mom, starts singing and dancing instantly: Giiive it to meee, give it to meeeBrooks: Wha? What is this?!Mom: Michael Jackson, baby! (back to singing) Brooks: Why are you so weird?Kenna: She gets it from Dad's side

Brooks: What is your name, like, your real name?Mom: DarlaBrooks: What colour is the grass?Mom: GreenBrooks: Ok, and what direction am I pointing?Mom: DownBrooks: Ok, so Darla green down!! Darrrrla greeeeeen dowwwwwn!Mom: But that doesn't make any senseBrooks: I know. It's a jokeSo, someone still doesn't "get" jokes, apparentlyAfter staying out late at a party...the next morningKenna: Well, last night I had 4 cupcakes and 3 refills of root beer, and I don't feel crazy at all. Though, my head really hurtsShe's attempting to make a case for "you should let us eat more sugar"

Bolgerism: Blankety-Blank. Special cuddly blanket, also known as a "comf" (comfy blanket)

Talking with a little friend, Dad's off in the distanceFriend: Which one is your Dad?Grey: The one in the blue shirtFriend: Which one?Grey: In dat blue shirt(there were a few people in blue shirts, so after a few "blue shirt" answers...)Grey: ...you see the one with the crazy hair? That's him, with the crazy hair

Brooks: We don't even know where Heaven isGrey: Yes we do, it's right up near Canada

listening to the radioBrooks: Oh, this is Justin Bieber. Hey, do you know what retired means, Sonny?Sonny: NoBrooks: It means you're so old, you can't work anymore. So like, he got really old like Grandpa, and retired. But he still...Kenna: No, he's not old, he's just stopping workingBrooks: Well, I was going to say he doesn't look like a GrandpaSeeing a random dog being walked, wearing a black "studded" collar...Grey: Oh look! That's a big dog. His name is Rock Star, cause he is wearing a Rock Star fingy (thingy). Wow. Cool. I've never seen a live, real, rock star dog before

Grey: Do you want to talk about animals today?Mom: Sure. What animals do you know about?Grey: Well...do you know that monkeys use their arms to hang on trees and swing?Mom: YesGrey: So, does that like, ring a bell?Mom: Yes, it does. I think it sounds quite correctHe goes on to talk about all he knows about monkeys, asking if all his "facts" 'ring a bell':-)

Darla: Here taste this. Its my favourite flavour of the greek yogurtsBrian: Huh, pretty good. I might need my own bowlDarla: I add the chocolate chips to the top. It's like granola only way more tastierBrian rolls his eyes:-)

Watching a nature show on tv, (baby cheetah caught by hyena)Mom: Awww, the baby got killed? That's like little Grey getting eaten by a hyena. So sadBrooks: Uh no. That is like Grey getting shot by a robber, in human life

We went to a friends house for an (invited) spur of the moment playdate...Kenna: I don't know if we should go over like that anymore. I think we were troubling their personal businessMom: Oh?! Troubling their personal business?Kenna: Well, you know, I wouldn't know what else to call it, but when we got there I asked Julia where Claire was, and she was in the shower. The shower! So we probably shouldn't just show up like that.Discussing Kenna working out to avoid sore musclesMom: It'll make you a man before your mother, as they sayKenna: Well, I already am a man, 'cause I'm not scared of blood, and Brooksie is

Brooks: So, if you hadn't married Daddy, we wouldn't exist?Mom: YupBrooks: Well, I'm glad you married him then, cause I wouldn't want to be killed!

Brooks: Life is sometimes hardMom: Yup. It is, and they say "only the strong survive"Brooks: Yah, 'cause Kenna's wants a bird, and I want a bunny, but we can't get any pets 'cause we don't have any newspapersMom, not anticipating that turn of the conversation: Uh, newspapers?Brooks: Yes. You know, for them to, you know poop on and stuff. We can't get any pets until we get more newspapers...later on in that conversation...Kenna: I wish Grandma {Kennedy} was our Mom. She'd let us have pets. She likes petsDuring a boys vs girl "snowball" fight (using tennis balls to hurl at each other)Kenna: I refuse to be scared by your ugliness!!

Listening to Uncle Logan's band onlineBrooks: Wow. That is the best band song I've ever heard in my life! He's pretty good! I mean, for an Uncle's band, it's actually really really good!I'm not listening/paying attention to a convo, until I hear this...Kenna:...Dad is a spicy dude!Mom: Dad is a spicy dude?!?Kenna: Yah, he ate like, 800 pounds of spice and never even took a drink of water!Mom: Ohhh, righttalking about the concept of "the best day of your life"Mom: ...I've had a few best days, like the day I married Dad, and the day I had you, and Brooks, and GreyKenna: Well, I'm sure you had other great moments when you were a kid, you just don't remember themMom: Haha! Maybe so!

Brooks: So I have this whistle, and my bean bags. So you know what I do if they go near the lake? Blow the whistle! And you know what I do if they go near the woodpile? Blow the whistle! And you know what I do if they go near the mud? Blow the whistle! And you know what I do if they go near the trees?Mom, interrupts: Blow the whistle!Brooks: No! I throw a bean bag at them!

Mom: Go outsideGrey: No, Brooks said I can't go outside without himBrooks: No, you can! But you can only go on the Bridge to Atlantis, or chop down a tree (glancing at Mom nervously)...for pretend. Don't really do it.

Brooks: I can't believe I'm just like your Grandpa!Mom: My fatherBrooks: Oh right, your father. Wait. Who is that again?

Kenna: I do talk really fast, that is one of the good things about meMom: I guess. But yesterday you said Cloudy With A Chance of Ball Meat Two...so maybe it's not always a good thingKenna: TruuuueAfter instructing the kids on the correct pronunciation of ValentiNe's dayMom: So it's tine, not time, because his name was St. ValentineKenna: So, like, his last name was Tine? That makes sense

Kenna: When is Spring gonna come? How are we s'posed to know if that warthog saw his shadow when we've never seen one?

Brooks: Did you know gophers can get as big as Chihuahua's?Mom: No. Who told you that?Brooks: Dad. When we were shooting. You know, Lehman shot one in the armpit!Mom: Did he? I don't remember that.Brooks: He did. It was really cute too

Grey, holding some toys: Wook at all dese treasures! I'm gonna be rich from now on!

Grey: If you cwash your car, de police will cuff ya wiff his cuffersOnions, againBrooks: Do Canadians say un-yuns or on-eons?Mom: Un-yuns. Why?Kenna: We thought Canadians said everything properly. You know, like ug-en and ah-gainMom: Well yah. I guess they don't say everything perfectly. But close:-)Talking about a friends babyBrooks: ...well it could be a girl!Kenna: No, it's a boy!Brooks: But it might be a girlMom: Well, the ultrasound said it was a boy, so it will probably be a boyKenna: Yes, cause sometimes they are wrong, but not usually. Although, I don't know how they can tell all that, just by listeningHaha!! Time to explain how ultra *sound* really works:-)

On Monday morningBrooks: That Superbowl was the worst game of all time!Mom: Oh really?Brooks: Yes! It started out like, 22 to ZERO, and it ended up 83 to like, 8 or something. It was just awfulwalking out of a store, into a cloud of cigarette smoke, from people standing outside the doorGrey, loudly: What is that smell?! It smells like someone is roasting out here! It smells like someone is roasting!while discussing various physical and personality charasteristics of the kids...Kenna, chimes in: Brooks is not very head strong. Bangs his head? Cries!

Kenna: So this storm coming...I think it's called Tina. Yes. Cause we've already had an "S" storm.She speaks of Hurricane Sandy:-) Too bad snowstorms aren't named;-)talking at dinner about how there will likely be snow on the ground when we wake up...Brooks: But how do they know it will snow? Like, they are not GodKenna, in her "everybody knows this" tone of authority: Well, they are the weather department, they send people all over the place. Up to New York? Yup, snowing there. Up to Canada? Yup, snowing there. So then they call here and tell the department it's coming

Mom: Maybe it has the flu, like you hadGrey: Nah, the flu has spots, and I didn't have spots

Grey: 'member when we were at da beach, and we saw a puffer fish? And den dat bawgeegull stoled your sammich?The bawgeegull (bald eagle), also known as a sea gull, but the way he tells it makes it sound so much better:-)talking about all the animals we saw in the Toronto ZooGrey: ...and did we see a troll there?Mom: Uh, trolls don't exist, so noGrey: But they exist, like, in the wildMom, laughing: No, they do not exist even in the wild

Grey: I needa tell you somethin', a hundred years ago, Brooks threw Kenna's bracelet!Mom: Oh really? When was this?Grey: Upstairs!hearing a Spin Doctors song on the radioBrooks: Hey! I know this song! This used to be Dad's favourite song, before the Goo Goo Dolls came along!for some reason his excitement and authority on the topic made me laugh out loud...for the record, I did not know this...I confirmed with Brian, and Brooks is right:-)coming from work really lateBrian: Know what I feel like having?Darla: Ice cream?Brian: No, I was thinking more like a BLT. Maybe I'll have ice cream after. Or no, I'll have it first so I can wash it down with something betterDarla: Uh no. If you are washing down ice cream with bacon, than you don't love it, and you're not having anyAin't wasting ice cream on people who don't appreciate it! (More for me!)

Grey, pointing to the ham: Can I have more?Mom: Of course!Grey: Ymmmm! I love more pig butt!Kenna: and thigh. It's pig butt and thightalking about a local fatal helicopter crashKenna: Well, still, that is very very sad for all the people on that planeMom, trying to avoid creating a fear of flying, since we fly fairly often: Yes, but it was a helicopter, not an airplane. Airplanes are much safer than helicopters areKenna: I know. Airplanes have like, those thingy ma bobs and stuffMom: Oh...what thingy ma bobs?Kenna: You know, if you're going down, that thing comes out of the ceiling and you put it on your face, and then you put on your life vest, and then you search for the nearest exit and go outMom: Oh, right, ok....exactly

Brooks: Grey is not allowed to touch my Lego anymore, cause it's too delicate for him. He's already lost a pieceGrey: Well, I lost one of my men, so my Lego is delicate too! Duh!While it is 37 outside, it is 70, inside...Kenna: I know! Why don't we have hot chocolate to cleanse us from this cold!***********Discussing the exact meaning of "in Excelsis Deo"Brian: Isn't it Glory to God in the Highest?Lauren: Well Deo is God...back and forth a few more timesDarla: Wasn't there a sword named Ex-celcius?Dale: Uh...that was ExcaliburHaha!Realizing he's about to get as many candies as his age...Grey: No, no, I'm six! Ree-wee, I am. I'm six

Darla: Hey wanna help me wrap?Brian: Well, I would, but you do it all wrong and it'll make me madDarla: I don't mean help me wrap, together. You wrap all those things, by yourself, however you wantHe's a little ocd about it, but definitely a good present wrapper. I'm not ocd at all, and it shows:-)noticing a very light grocery bag by the front doorMom: Hey, you have carry the bags all the way to the kitchen, you can't leave things by the doorGrey: I would Mom, but it's a-sauce-ting meOpening a little plastic baggie of treats from her teacherKenna: Oh Mom! You have to smell this! It smells like pure JOY!it smelled generally of chocolate and mint...so she's definitely a girl:-)

Making BLTs for dinner...Kenna: You should make yours an LT, 'cause bacon is not good for fat peopleMom: I think I'll be fine. Thank you

Grey: I wish it was white, 'cause that is my favourite colourMom: It is? I thought you liked green?Grey: Well, I do, but I'm starting to get into white nowMom: Oh, really! Well, when did you start getting into white?Grey: After we went to that party yesterday. That's when I started to get into it

Kenna: What does charisma mean?Mom: It's part of your personality. It's something that you have that makes people want to be around you, or like you, or copy you...stuff like that. Your Dad has lots of charismaKenna: Oh. I do too, I thinkBrooks: So do I!Kenna, flatly: Uh, no. You don't have any. When was the last time anyone wanted to be like you?

Kenna: How am I going to live with this?! (brothers being...brothers)Mom: I dunno. You'll survive. Think of me, I had six brothers!Kenna: Yah, but you also had four sistersMom: True, but they were also pretty annoying. Kids are just annoying, that's all there is to itKenna: Well, not usually girlsA convo at workPerson 1: Where are you from?Brian: New York, actuallyPerson 1: Oh, I thought soPerson 2: Why? He doesn't have an accent. I would've thought L.A. or something, with the hairPerson 1: It's not about how they talk. It's about how they look at youChristmas shopping, just Grey & IGrey: You can park over dere, dere's lotsa spotsMom: Yah, but if we park over there we'll have to run, or we'll be late. Can you run?Grey: Yah, well no, probly not. I can only speed walk

Brooks: I don't want it because Sonny already touched it. He can give it to May if he wants, because they are in the same family, so they have the same germs. Except she has girl germs and he has boy germs but other than that, the same germsLooking at a Nativity scene...Brooks: I wonder what kind of soup was in that pot? I bet it was too hot for baby JesusKenna: Well it doesn't matter, little babies don't eat soup, they eat from boobsBrooks: WHAT?!? They do NOT!!

Kenna, running to brothers and giggling: Did you just hear Mom? She said, Hello! Hello! I think you butt dialed me! Butt...dialed...she said butt, dialed! Get it?...Butts...hysterical laughing

Brooks: If you cross your eyes and shake your head around like this, {violent head shaking}, the Christmas lights look really cool! You should try it, Mom. Try it!Mom: No, thank youBrooks: No, really, try it Mom, you'll love itdoubtful...After enduring a particularly silly dinnerKenna: I just want to send them to adoption, can we? I mean, we'd save money...and...just...LOOK AT THEM. I really think we shouldBrooks: We'd probably be bad at our adoption house, and they'd send us back here anyway, so ha ha

Mom: The movie Titanic was the most popular movie, of all timeKenna: Of all the Titanic movies?Mom: No, of all movies, of any type, ever madeKenna: Oh, like the most popular for-bitten love story?

Brian: I have a love hate relationship with stripesDarla: Oh yah? What is the hate part?Brian: I hate stripesDarla: Haha, then what is the love part?Brian: That shirt looks good on meseeing a typical deer crossing roadsign...Grey: Ohhh, wook. Reindeers land down here, Mom!

Brooks: Do spoilers actually make cars go faster?Mom: Wellll, yes, I think they are supposed to, but only...Kenna, interrupts: Mom did not go to college, so that question is too difficult for her. How is she supposed to know stuff like that?We had a very very late night (midnight!), meaning the next day is full of arguments and tears...Brooks: Well, Dad saaaaaaid!!!Kenna: Oh who cares. Dad isn't even part of thisBrooks: HE IS SO!!! He is the second oldest member of this family!!There you have it, #2. Love Forever, #1 :-D

Kenna: ...then she asked where we lived, and I said, to be exact, we live 5 miles from here. And she said, is that far? 'Cause she is 6, so Brooksie's age, so she's kiiiiinda at that stage where she doesn't really know things like that yet

Kenna: And I was like, the only good kid in my class. Every one else was being crazy, I mean, CRAAAAZY. And I was like, am I the only kid in the world with good manners, Ooooorrrr?!?She's soooo humble;-)

Brooks: ...that is what Mr Davis and Miss Danielle said. Or, ummmm...Mom: I think you mean Mr Davis and Miss MiKayla...Confused his Sunday School teachers for his Aunt & Uncle:-)

Darla: I wish I had a jean jacket to wear with my maxi dress so it would be, you know, seasonally appropriateBrian: Oh yah, that would be nice. Then you could combine the Amish look with the biker gang lookDarla, rolls eyes

Brooks: What is the most healthiest thing in the whole world?Mom: Water, I thinkBrooks: Oh, ok! So if you drink lots of water you will live until you die?Mom: Uhhhh...yah

Grey, holding a mug of hot chocolate: Can I put this in here? (livingroom)Mom: No way, kitchen onlyGrey: But I will be bery careful! And if someone knocks it over...Mom, interrupts: MMM, no. If someone spills that on my carpet...Grey, interrupts: I know, I know, you'll have to beat them

Grey, wearing shorts and tee: I'm coldMom: Well you could try putting on winter clothes!Grey: Yah, cause dese pants don't have bery long sleeves. Cause I need dem to have longer sleeves to reach down to my toes

Brooks, to Mom:...Well since we're half Canadian and half American...well, you're not. You were born in Canada, but you live like an American, right?

Brooks, (said in November): Oh mom, I have to tell you something really important. You know Eli? Not Eli B, Eli M. Well he would like me to come to his house, for his party. It's in June. Can I go?

Grey: Nah, I actually don't want pandies, well actually I do, but I don't want to get th-ticky, so I don'tBolgerism: pandies, aka: pandie-cakes, aka: pancakes

Grey: No, no, Iron Man goes like this {punching motions}Sonny, laughsGrey: This is not funny, Sonny, this is actually bery see-we-us.

Brooks, contemplating drinking from an old water bottle he found in the vanMom: Don't you dare! It could have mold in it!Grey: Yah, if you eat dat, den de mold goes into your tummy, and den you die like Unc'a GregKenna: But that's not how he died!Grey: Yah, well, also if you are smelling paint, you can die like him too. Mom showed him to me in Canada, so I know. De ovv-er (other) GreyMy Uncle Greg was killed in an industrial accident, involving fumes...I am quite surprised that Grey remembered the story with some accuracyI may have uncovered a kidnapping plot:-)Sonny: My my my mom is talking about borrowing KennaDarla: Oh yah? 'Cause she is so helpful with May?Sonny: Yeeaahhh, no, I fink she just likes her

Brooks: The baddest word in the whole universe is taking the Lord's name out of vain, right?Brooks, trying to figure out how he can give $5 to Awanas to earn a special patch, and still have enough money left over to buy a pack of gum...Brooks: But then I would only have one dollar left!Mom: But that is enough for gumBrooks: Yah, but I wanted to get one for Grey tooKenna: Think of it this way, Brooks, would you rather choose gum or have those kids in Africa go to hell?Nothing like a hefty guilt trip!Talking about my volunteer job with AwanasKenna: Do you think you can make seven hundred pancakes?!Mom: Yes, I probably couldKenna: Wow. I mean, when you signed up for this, I thought you would just be helping kids with verses and stuff. I didn't realize you would be the main attraction!Putting on a pair of cute "riding" styled boots, hand-me-down, for the first time...Kenna: Huh? A chain? These boots are sooo gothal!Singing Deep and Wide...Kenna: Now lets sing it in Japanese! (begins song using a British accent) Deeeeep and wiiiide....Brooks: No, that's Chinese!Kenna: Ok, whatever (and continues singing in her accent)

Grey: I wook wike Bwian, do I? But I don't. My hair is getting browner and browner wike Bwian's though

Kenna: Now that our family is gone, I need to get back to brushing my teeth after every snack and lunch. I haven't been doing it when they were here, and now I'm way behind scheduleGrey, peeing in a bush...and peeing, and peeing, and peeingMom: Hey, are you done?Grey: No! It's not empty yet!Shoving the toilet plunger directly in/over Brooks' face...Grey: Here! Smell this fing!Driving in a new place in Chesapeake, and there is a "honk", not sure if it was directed at me, since I think I was fine, but all three kids were all over me for this heinous error...Kenna: You know if Dad was that other driver, he'd be saying "IDIOT!!"Pulling up beside a car at a lightKenna: Oh my! That driver is drunk!!Mom: What?! How do you know?!Kenna: He's got fire and smoke coming out of that stick thing!!Mom: Honey, that's called smoking a cigarette

Brooks: I just saw a Toyota Sabioth!Mom: A Sabioth, eh?Brooks: Yes, a Toyota Sabioth!

Grey: Does God call all the good angels to fight Satan? Cause Satan tries to take all your blood away, but God gives it back cause he has all the blood he has

Grey: Who sings this? Is this a Beatles song?Mom: No, this is Zac BrownGrey: Oh, Brown like Brownie. I know a boy named Brownie, and he's a boy. Well, he's a dog

Brooks: Does the Bible tell what will happen when this world breaks, in the future?Guests getting ready to leave, little girl still holding a few toysGrey, to Mom: She's going to take dose!Mom, whispers: It's ok, she won't take them homeGrey, marches over to little girl: Miss Dah-la says no stealing!

Grey: What kind is dat blue one?Mom: That is a...Dodge AvengerGrey: A dodge? Like da dodgy end?...we refer to the "other end" of Hugo St as "the dodgy end". I guess it's the only time he's heard the word:-)

Brian: ...I have a beautiful lifeDarla: Well, your beautiful wife needs to go {lists off chores}Brian: Life. I said beautiful life, not wifeDarla, runs over to "smack" him: Ooooh, I thought you said wife!Brian: I do have a beautiful wife, but you can't put words in my mouth every time you're fishing for a complimentDriving around our new neighbourhood...it's kind of country-ish, compared to the city...lots of small hobby type farm propertiesGrey: Look there's a barn! There's a little tiny farm for little tiny animals!Taking a big drink of his slusheeGrey: ooooooOOOOH! I got a squeeze bwain!On the way home from soccer practice...Kenna: And Ardyn had two braids, and I was like, how on earth did you get so cute Ardyn? She said her Mommy did it, and then she was playing with this ball...Brooks: I think you should concentrate more on soccer and not worry about Ardyn so muchthe levels of dedication around here are extremely varied...

Brooks: Ok, who makes the biggest container of mayo ever?Kenna: uh, DLC American WineMom: Wha?! Wine?Kenna: I dunno, I was just making something upGrey: Costco!Grey wins

Brooks, to Kenna: Liar, liar, dress on fire, 'cause you're not wearing any pants!driving past Harbor Park at 7:15pmBrooks: The lights are off! They must not be playingMom: Yah, if they were, they'd be onGrey: Well, it's also bedtime so the baseball guys are probly going to bed, DAT'S why the lights are offTalking about wild animalsGrey: What about a horse?Mom: A horse...can be wild, or domestica--Grey, interrupts: No, no, a horse FLYMom: Oh, yes. That is a wild animal I guessGrey: Ok, what about snowmen?Mom: Well, snowmen are not alive...Seeing a resurrection/Easter picture in a book...Grey: Is dis da good cross? And dose are de I don't know...bad ones?Mom: Yes, the middle one is Jesus' cross, and the other ones belonged to criminalsGrey: And dis is da cave where he died-is in? Wiff wittle wocks and biiig wocks?Mom: Mhmmm, that is called the tomb where he was buriedGrey: And (holding his wrists) dis is where He got big splinters in Him, right here. Splinters in His arms!

Bolgerism: Froke. Alt: Freaking or Freaked. Froke is past tense

Kenna, bringing me a broken fishing line with a hook on it at the Willow house: Look, Ma! Look what we found! This is our very first clue about the people who used to live here. I think they used to be fishermen! Can we keep it?

sending the kids out to the van to buckle up, while I collect a few last minute things in the house...I see out the window that the door is wide open, and it's raining

Mom, shouting to the van: HEY! WHY IS THE DOOR OPEN? IT'S RAINING!

Brooks: WE DON'T WANT TO HEAT STROKE OURSELVES!!!

ok, ok, haha!!

Accomplishing amazing and tricky trailer backing-up feats

Darla: Wow. How do boys learn how to do that?

Brian: Boys who want boats learn how to do that

There's always an angle...

rolling over in bed onto Brooks in the middle of the nightMom: Hey, what are you doing in here?Brooks: I had a terrible dreamI let him stay...in the morning...Mom: So what was the terrible dream about that you had?Brooks: Falling off a bald eagleMom: That was your dream?Brooks, looking pained: Yes!

Grey: My savourite sing (favourite thing) is eating a big paw-corn bag and watchin a show

Grey: Wook, I'm dwinking all dis wed (red) juice! It's warming up my heart and making it all jigga-wee

Grey: And Dad, dere was a bumble bee horse dere!!...it was a horse fly, actuallyLooking at a house that needed quite a bit of work done...Kenna: This house needs to be destroyed!!

Brooks: He's going to suicide his self!Grey and his risky couch jumping maneuvers make everyone nervousSaid as he hurls a Frisbee directly at a glass cupGrey: I hope I don't hit dat cup!And lucky for us he has bad aim!Eating Pop RocksGrey: Dese are good! If you wick 'em, dey are bery good and dey tickle your bwain!! Wike, dey go all the way up to your eyeballs!

Brooks: You know the Beatles? Did you know two of them are dead and two are alive?Mom: Yes, I do...how do you know that?Brooks: In Canada, you know, Holden told meafter talking about the Beatles/Rock Band for awhileBrooks: Maybe we should buy that game, since they are the popularist rock stars, everexplaining the rules of tag "with a jail" to meMom: ...I know, and then one person has to tag you in jail to get you outBrooks: No! Not at all! Tagging is like, randomly touching anywhere on your body. You have to only touch the haaandMom: Oh. wow. got it...random touching...definitely not allowed :-D

Grey, running to me at the playground: Buhsie felled down!!Mom: Oh my, is he going to live?Grey: No! ...oh wait! I'll go tell him to live!

Grey: Jou know who I want for my birthday? (birthday cake)Mom: Who?Grey: Dark Vader, so then I want two cakesDad: Oh really? Do you know who that is?Grey: Uhhh, well, he's a bad guy so...Brooks: And I want Luke Skywalker!And none of them have ever seen Star Wars! And I find it so "Grey" that he wants a bad guy for his cake, haha!

Kenna: Why does God make the bad storm come if he knows it will knock the power out?Mom: Well, sometimes it's just a storm, its the way the way the world works, the clouds collect the water and then it comes down...God doesn't always interfere with the natural order of things just to keep the power on, because we can fix thatKenna: I'm guessing you learned that at college. Did you even go to college?Mom: Nope.Kenna: Oh, well I'm not going to college either!Mom: Why not?Kenna: As I understand it, you have to work from breakfast to dinnerBrooks: I'm not going to college either. I'm going to hockey campKenna: Well, one thing I know is you can't get a job unless you have a college degreeBrooks: Well, I don't need a college degree, I need a hockey camp degree. I think you have to be 14 to get that, right Mom?I do believe some of their hearts are revealed here...:-)Brooks: I wish the power would go out everyday!Kenna: But then we could never watch tv!Brooks: yah, but then we could go out to eat everyday!

Grey: So what is da dwealio is dat you have to work very bad (=very hard)Mom: That's the dealio, eh? Are you going to help me?Grey: Uhhh, nope!

Brooks, to Kenna: Wanna box? I promise I won't hit you in the face

Grey, in the house: My buwwet (bullet) went down da SEWER!!Mom: What? Where?Grey: Duh sewer, in dere. It went down itMom, a little concerned: Show meGrey, walking over to the register in the kitchen floor: Is in dere. DAT is da SEWER down dere.

Brian: If we have any more kids, I get to name themDarla: Yah, rightBrian: I like Robespierre...for a girlDarla: Over my dead bodyBrian: ...and Charlemagne...for a boyoh brother

Grey: Can we have pancakes?Mom: No, we don't have any milkGrey: No, I want pancakes!Mom: I know, but I can't make them, I don't have any milkGrey: But milk and pancakes don't go togevver. Pancakes goes wiff see-wup

Bolgerism: Osh. It's short for ocean...it's just the osh 'round hereExplaining that Uncle Mike is a butcher, and how he cuts the whole cow down into smaller pieces for people to buyKenna: So wait, don't they have meat at Walmart here?

Kenna: Is your birthday in January?Mom: No, FebruaryKenna: Oh, I saw on the calendar a birthday for Mom B, and so I thought that it must be you, since you are a Mom, and a BolgerMom: Well, I normally call myself Darla, so if I write Mom B, I mean Grandma Bolger, 'cause she's not my Grandma, she's yoursKenna: Ok, that makes sense. I just thought it seemed a little weird. I did see Darla on there too, but I thought maybe it was like Auntie Darla, you, know, and Uncle Mike so I wasn't sureThat is Auntie Donna :-)

Brooks: Are me and Eli actually related?Mom: NoBrooks: oh, I wish we were related, then we could see them all the timeMom: You already do see them all the timeKenna: Besides, if you were related, you wouldn't even like him, trust meMom: Well, liking people is a choice, it doesn't matter if you're related or not, you can choose how you treat people. Like you and Brooks like each other and you're relatedBrooks: Weeeellll, I barely like hergetting out of a tight parking spotBrooks: Are we stuck?Mom: No, we'll be ok (maneuvers out of spot)Brooks: Wow. Impressive. I guess those driving lessons really paid off!!he is referring to the driving lessons I got when I learned how to drive at age 16, as he has recently learned that no one knows how to drive unless they've been taughta drive by tour of the Scholastic buildingBrooks: So this was your very first job?Mom: YupBrooks: What did you do there?Mom: Well, I basically made boxes for an entire summerBrooks: Did they pay you to do that?Mom: YesBrooks: How much?Mom: Hundreds of dollarsBrooks: Wha?! Wow!!! Why did you ever quit there?!

reading a birthday party invitation outloud...Brooks: "R.S.V.P. {phone number} or on facebook" (looking shocked and devastated at the same time)...but I don't have facebook!

Brooks: Look at that car from the olden days! It's from like, older than the hundreds! Older than even one two nine nine!! I wish you could take a picture of that so we could show Dad, like, actually really show him that old car!

Grey: You know dose guys up in Canada? Dey gave me deseand they were in fact from his Aunt

pet sitting a dogBrooks, to Daddy: Traxie doesn't listen to anyone 'cept Mom, 'cause she has the most ferocious voice

looping around a curvy on-rampGrey: Hang on folks-is, hang on, folks!

Darla, showing a picture/idea from Pinterest: Hey, look at thisBrian: Oh yah, that's neatKenna: Why do people always put ridic-lious things online?...I thought a tree stump turned into an end table was *kinda cool*, I guess its ridiclious, though

Brooks, to his friend: You know our family has it's own special mission? It's to try every kind of ice cream ever made!Logan: That's a dumb missionBrooks, very indignantly: No!, It's not!

Brooks: Do you know what is definitely possible for God to do?Mom: What?Brooks: Have no bones and still be alive! Humans could never do that, only God

Grey: Ma! Ma! D'you know what is a daddy wong wegs? It's a spidah wiff wooooooong foots!Grey ate the cherry off his sundae, and handed the "trash" (stem) over to Brian, who popped it in his mouth

Grey, astonished: Hey, you ate da BONES?!?! Dad jus ate dat bone!!!

Stem came out tied in a knot;-) Talents!

Kenna: I think I wanna be a tuh-fog-grapher

*photographer:-)

Brian: Ohhh! What did I tell you? Once again Brian is right! What was it that we call me...? What was it that we called that actor? (he was hinting at "genius")

Darla, smartly ignoring his hint: I don't know what we call them, but you're an idiot, sooo....

Brian: Oh sure. Well, if I'm an idiot than the rest of the world is in a looooot of trouble!

playing "coach pitch" with the kids, Kenna mostly missing the ballBrooks: Good job, good job. Kenna, I don't even care if you're not very good, I still say good job!!walking on a path with goose poop on itGrey: Is dat poo? Hey! Somebody pooped on dis woad! (road)

Mom: Are you wet?!Grey: I ack-tilly don't want to talk about itMom: I actually do! You can't pee your pants!

Kenna: We're almost out of toothpaste, you better give Brooks more for his birthday...you know how you give kids necessities of life as part of their gifts for Christmas/stockings etc...maybe I've given an extreme impressionWii opponent is revealed...Brooks: Oh, this guy! He's a suckerd!Mom: A suckerd?Brooks: Yah! I means like, you lose all the time and never win

Brooks: You know you can't beat Grandpa Kennedy, 'cause he's a NinjaDad: Oh, he is?Brooks: Yah! Well, he blocks like a Ninja

Brooks: Grey is the cutest boy in this family!Mom: He is? Cuter than you?, You're in this family. Cuter than Dad? He's a boy too!Brooks: Dad is a parent, not a kid. Parents can't even be cuteMom: Sure they can, just look at me, for exampleBrooks, making a strange face: You are not even cute at allMom, cracking up laughingBrooks: How are you kidding me? (how are = were you...)Mom: I wasn't kidding at all, actually

After May had a very minor trip & fall, and was looking around for sympathy as she debated whether or not to begin cryingKenna, in a motherly tone: Moe-moe, you're ok! You're being over-reactoring

Kenna: I've seen a commercial for that. Yah, it said Anna Karenina. It was all black and white and they were talking about old fashioned thingsMom: Oh really, like...?Kenna: I don't know, war and stuff, but it was definitely Anna Karenina

Brooks: Hellllp! Helllllp!Grey: You need a back up? I'n coming! I'n coming a back you up!For about 9 months now, maybe longer, Kenna and Brooks have been under the impression that one two nine nine is the biggest number imaginable. That is how they say it, every time. One two nine nine. Anything "infinity" to them is described as one two nine nine, like, Mom, we can't do that, it would take us one two nine nine years!Brooks:Can you even count to one two nine nine?Mom: YesBrooks: You can?!! Ok, do it thenMom: Well, I don't really want to, it would take a long time, but it's really not that big of a number. It's a mortgage payment

Watching video footage with me on it...Brooks: Wow, Mom, you look better on Wii, like you have better hair on WiiI always knew I shoulda been a cartoon character:-/

Seeing a commercial on TVDarla: Oh brother, they're bringing Jurassic Park back again?Lehman: Oh yah eh? What is Jurassic Park?Darla: It's what made dinosaurs cool...from years before you were born...back when there were only 5 kinds of dinosaurs and one of them was a Brontosaurusgotta love the wisdom that comes with age...;-)

Brooks: Once I had a bad dream, and I couldn't get back to sleep and my conscience told me to think about something else and then my mind copied my conscience so I was able to get back to sleep*Brian snickers*Kenna: Do you even know what a conscience is, Dad?Brooks: Well, if he had one, he'd knowMom: exactly, if he had one, he'd know (laughing)Kenna, seriously: Does he?Mom: Of course Honey, everybody does. It's something given to us by Goddon't joke about that stuff, Mommy;-)

Boys in rainboots, jumping in parking lot puddlesKenna: Stop it! You'll get me all dirty! (in a grown up tone of revulsion, to no one in particular) Boys are sooo disgusting!!Exasperated at the mess the kids continually make...Kenna: Guys! Come on! Mom just broomed the place!*swept, she meant:-)

on his birthdayMom: How old are you?Grey, holding up 3 fingers: Three in MarchMom: Today is March! You can just say three now!driving in the van...Grey: c'mon Dad, hit the fast pedal! Hit the fast pedal!!He loves racing, and winning:-)holding up his middle fingers...Grey: Look at my Wolverine hands!Neighbours felling 2 large trees, and they had to fall into our yard...Grey: There's a TANK in our yard! It's has shooters!For the unimaginative types, it was a Bobcat

entering information online...Brian: Ooooo, Baron {click}, that is what I want!Darla: You can't be Baron Brian Bolger, you have to choose Mr!Brian: I like Baron, it has a nice ring to it (laughing)Darla: Baron Brian, really? (laughing harder)Brian: Well, I do have several land holdings, so yes, I actually am a Baron, and I like it (laughing soooo hard)Darla, can't help but laaaaaauuugh: You are so dumb. Now we're going to get all kinds of paperwork with that on itHe stuck to his guns and went with Baron. "Several land holdings", LOL!

watching a movieKenna: Oohhhh, that part always makes me, like, shiver. Even though I know it's coming, I still shivertaking over a game from Kenna on the WiiBrooks: I can't believe I'm playing a girl. This is so dumb!Mom: You can be a girl for one round, c'monBrooks: Well, I'm really not supposed to. Dad says we only have to be our own Mii'erswatching a Disney Short Film...Brooks: If you lived in that town, you wouldn't need to have a baby in your tummy, the birds would bring them right to you! Wouldn't you like that?Who wouldn't?! :-)

Kenna: Who is your boss?Mom: Ardyn & Sonny's momsKenna: No, but who is in charge of babysitters?Mom: The moms of the kids you watch. That is what I do to make money, so it's my jobKenna: So you're like, in childcare, then?Mom: Yes, I'm in childcare, that is my job

Kenna: Brooks is a pretty good bird watcher, but I was telling him he was good except for one thing he needs to work on - his quietness. He's not very quiet, I mean, that boy can't keep his mouth shut...not unlike his sister, perhaps;-)

Brooks:Mom, look! There was half an onion on my spoon and I ate it!Mom: Wow! And it didn't kill you!Brooks: Why would it kill me?Mom: Well with the big deal you make about it, I'm just surprised it didn't kill youBrooks: I've eaten a small piece before too, you knowMom: And you're still alive, after all that. Amazing.after seeing Up for the first time on SundayDarla: Wow, Brave won an Oscar!Brian: Really? Up should have wonDarla: Well it wasn't made this yearBrian: I know, but I don't think it won when it was madeDarla: Maybe not. It's super sentimentalBrian: Veryawww, someone is a softie;-)arguing over the Kindle's volume control with BrooksGrey: hey!, Hey!!, HEY!!! What is wrong wiff you? I can handle dis!!talking with Kenna about whether she's more Canadian, or more American. Mom & Dad each argue their case, and Mom comes out with a low blow to help Kenna in declaring her allegiance...Mom: Well, you know what they call Americans? UglyKenna: Well, Dad is not ugly!Mom: Meh, he's borderline(Brian snickers)Kenna: Well (lists of many more relatives who are not ugly)Mom: Ok, ok, true. But what they mean by ugly is that Americans are rudeKenna: But Dad is not rude!Mom: aaah, he's *definitely* borderlineLots of laughter from Brian & I :-) Score 1 for Canada!

Mom: This is a pod of whalesKenna: No it's a pod of Orcker'sMom: Or-ca's?Kenna: uh, Or-kers. They're called a pod of Orcker'sThis is what happens when they get all of their marine biology from the Australian cartoon characters on Octonauts:-)

Grey: Oh wook! It's Cap-in Mare-ca Furrs a' Bencher!If you say it really fast like that, you do get the picture...it's Captain America the First Avenger

Rubbing his skinny tummy/absBrooks: When I take my shirt off when I'm wearing jeans, I look pretty manly

Right before dinner, kids we've never seen before came looking for playmates outsideKenna, at dinner: So I was like, it's pretty dangerous to talk to strangers, I mean, they could kill you! But it's pretty lucky you banged into us, we don't kill anyoneDad: You said that to them?Kenna: yup!

Kenna: And then the funny part is, he says, I'm Tow-Mater african'telligence...that should be "average intelligence"

Brooks: Mom, what are kilometres?spoken like a true American:-)

Driving by a house with Christmas decor still up...Kenna: Wow. What is going on here? (shouting towards house in disgust)Take it down, people! It's almost Valentime's

Mom: Hey GleggieGrey: I'm not! I'm Lleyton Gley!

At the playplaceMom: Hey, make sure you are being nice to all the other childrenKenna: Oh we are. I've actually already made a good friendTeaching colours fail...Grey, announces loudly: Look! A black man!Yes, he was *dressed in* all black. Good eye Grey. Unfortunately he also *was* black. Embarrassed Mommy

Kenna: Once upon a time, Dad raced a carBrooks: He did?Kenna:No, it's a once upon a time Brooks. With once upon a times, things may or may not be trueseeing a cruise shipGrey: Wow! Is'a weally weally big Jowwy Woger! (Jolly Roger)...also pirate related he says Captain Hook like"Hacken Hook"

with 2 huge hand fulls of mini cookiesGrey: Is this one hundred of them? I need one hundredMom: Yes it is! But you can only have this many. That is too muchGrey: Four?! I can't have four, it's not big enoughMom: It is enough. You can't have one hundredGrey: Mom, I didn't have one hundred, I onwee (only) have ninety nineSeriously?! When did this kid get so smart?

Kenna: You know that old metal car that you said your dad would have played with when he was little?...Does that mean he's from the olden days too?she thinks we're all ancient:-)holding a remote...Grey: if I pwess dis button, it makes you happy. If I pwess dis button it makes you a baddie baddie.Mom: Aw, that wouldn't make me happyGrey: Well, dis button makes ME a goodie goodieMom: That is the button I like!

Kenna: ...so if I can't taste it, I don't mind. Like, Dad told me there were onions in the potatoes, and I was like, awwwwhhh!, but then I tasted them and I couldn't tell so I actually liked itBrooks: Well, my teeth are very sensitive so that doesn't work for meKenna: But teeth are only for chewingBrooks: Yah, and mine are very sensitive! They can always tell what they're eatingOverheard talking to one of her little friends...Kenna: You don't actually believe in the tooth fairy, do you? You know it's just your parents? Well, it is. It's just your parentsOfficial title: Kennedy, Crusher of Hopes and Dreams

Brian, to Darla: You need to rein in all the rabbits on all your trails

*******...painted jars from my grandma... yet another Kennedy lectureKenna: That's why Mom is glad she has a girl, so she has someone to give all her stuff to. Like, if I drop these jars, they would become re-available, but who would paint them? No one, she's dead. So that is why Mom gave them to me. Because you guys are too hyperPlaying "store"...Brooks: Could I have that?...how much does it cost?Grey: two hundred poundsBrooks: Ok, how much does that cost?Grey: zeewo daw-wers (zero dollars), and no hundred pounds!Apparently, we've got a little English in us...

Grey: ooOOO!! I see da moon! Is'a HALF moon!! Dis means we get...CANNIES!!! (candies) WOOOOO!Mommy: We do? Is that a thing? Who says?Grey: I doTaking a drink of soda and letting out a burp...Grey: Say b'skews you, MomMom: Oh, yes, excuse meGrey: Ok, I'm ready to b'skews you Mom. You're b'skews'dMom: aww, thanks;-)Trying to reach candy up on top of the fridgeGrey: Moooooommmy! I need a wonger (longer) chair!

Brian, laughing hard: Well...nevermind...Darla: What?Brian, still laughing: Nothing, nothing. I was gonna say something, but I still want to be married, so...Darla: Well what?Brian, still laughing: I can't. SeriouslyDarla: You don't get to laugh hysterically and then NOT say what you're laughing about!...a few minutes later...Darla: So, why were you laughing? What were you going to say?Brian: Ah, nothing. It's not funny anymore. Had to be in the moment. It's passed.

Daddy: How old are you?Grey: TwoDaddy: How strong are you?Grey: Three

the plastic "face" fell off an old clock they play withGrey: Oh no! This time machine is bloken!! (broken)Darla: I read something online today that said men cry six times per year, and women cry thirty to SIXTY times per yearBrian: What? Six times?! That seems...really really highWell I was more thinking the sixty thing was a little high...